Higher Ed. Dive
July 12, 2021 Admissions
A dozen groups and individuals in higher education are pressing U.S. News and World Report to stop using average SAT and ACT scores to calculate its influential Best Colleges rankings. The publication has long built entrance exam scores into its methodology for the rankings, though recently it has taken steps to account for their diminished role in some schools’ admissions processes. More than 1,500 colleges will not require test scores for fall 2022.
Inside Higher Ed
July 19, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
A new survey of test-optional colleges found that test-optional is improving access broadly for low-income, underrepresented, and first generation students. In lieu of test scores, there was a heavier reliance on high school transcripts and GPA, and public institutions were more likely than private institutions to make more use of essays and personal statements.
Higher Ed. Dive
June 08, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many 4-year colleges that required entrance exams temporarily moved to test-optional policies for admissions consideration. Research indicates that the SAT and ACT favor White and wealthy students over poor, Black and Hispanic students. Though policies and messaging across institutions was inconsistent and ambiguous this year, Admissions experts believe that these test-optional policies open doors for students whom higher education has historically boxed out.
EdSurge
April 16, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The COIVD-19 pandemic significantly altered enrollment behaviors of students for the current enrollment cycle and possibly future cycles as well. Admissions and enrollment professionals question if pre-pandemic methods of predicting enrollment will remain relevant. If not, how can these predictive analytics be recalculated accordingly?
Inside Higher Ed.
March 29, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
The pandemic has led to a surge in applications at the most competitive colleges, both public and private. New applications include minority and low-income applications, and many top college also admitted large early decision/early-action classes. As a result, predicting yield will likely be more difficult this year, and institutions will likely rely on waiting lists more than they normally do.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
March 09, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success, Value and Affordability
This opinion article describes the unique issues enrollment management leaders are experiencing with regard to predicting enrollment and yield for fall 2021. (Subscription required)
Inside Higher Ed.
March 08, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The National Association for College Admission Counseling has created a commission to rethink the college admissions process “through a racial equity lens.” NACAC has identified three priority areas for the commission to explore, including the college entrance experience, postsecondary financial aid requirements, and the role of racial equity in postsecondary enrollment.
Education Dive
March 02, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Colleges using the Common App received nearly 6 million applications by February 15, driven by a variety of factors. Prospective students are applying to more institutions this year and interest in large, more-selective private schools rose, particularly from international and first-generation students, students from traditionally underrepresented racial minority groups, and those who receive fee waivers
Inside Higher Ed.
February 22, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
While the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many higher education institutions to implement test-optional or test-blind options for domestic students, most are still requiring foreign students to take a test to demonstrate their English proficiency. An alternative, new version of the test, offered by Duolingo, has gained market share in the past year, prompting ETS to unveil a new version of the TOEFL, called TOEFL Essentials.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
December 15, 2020 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Competition in higher education admissions continues to be driven by demographic declines and increasing price sensitivity, among other factors. The ongoing crisis created by the outbreak of COVID-19 has further revealed the fragility of the current admissions model, which relies heavily on campus visits and travel for recruitment. This article examines the possibility of replacing the current admissions process with a match process, similar to medical school model.